For incoming freshman 1. You’re going to contemplate whether or not you want to make one of those “advice to your freshman self” or “advice to upcoming freshman” type posts because you’ve already seen thousands of these but you’re going to do it anyway because why not? 2. Communication is a big thing here. Your professors, your TAs, they’re here to help you, so don’t be afraid to ask for accommodations or any clarifications. They really want to make sure everything is okay so you can get the best out of your education. 3. That being said, you really can’t half-ass things anymore if you want to do really well. You’re going to have classes where you learn a ton of information each day and your professors trust that you know what works best for you to learn the material. It’s a good idea to try to figure out your learning style. 4. This “can’t half-ass things” rule goes beyond academics as well. Getting into certain clubs just isn’t the same anymore. You’ve might have been able to audition for the school musical recovering from a cold and learning the song two days before but still getting the lead anyway because the director has known you for 4 years and knows your potential. But it’s a fresh start here; give it your all. 5. Friends too. Because of the classes you’re taking, most of the people you’ll see on a daily basis will likely be in your major. Which really isn’t a bad thing, but if you really want to maintain friendships with the people you meet during welcome week, you’re going to have to make an huge effort. 6. Take advantage of your school’s wellness center, even if you feel like you don’t have “Real Problems” (spoiler alert: your problems are real). Sometimes it’s good to talk or get advice from an outside perspective. 7. You’ll be surprised at how much freedom you have. Bring your cup of coffee to class. You don’t have to raise your hand to go to the bathroom during lecture. Go as your please. It’s okay if you’re feeling cold and want to leave on your hat. Professors won’t assume the worst in you. After all, you’re CHOOSING to pay to come back every year. 8. Try not to worry about what people think of you. Because trust me for whatever you are doing there’s always somebody doing the same thing or even more bizarre. I’ve seen people wearing their pjs to class, or even dressing up like they’re about to hit the runway. I’ve seen people eating cereal out of bowel-shaped tin foil and cocooning themselves in their duvet cover while watching Netflix in the lounge. People are usually more preoccupied with themselves to care that deeply about how you look. 9. What your college experience looks like really depends on you. You’ll here a lot of people telling you “don’t take 8ams” or “you’re going to get the freshman 15”, things you should/shouldn’t do or things that should/shouldn’t happen. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s too early to tell how you’re going to look back on these years, but it’s definitely an interesting time full of getting to know your self and realizing who you are as an individual.
a rising sophomore